The top 16 places to eat in Torquay

If you’re looking for a place to eat out in Torquay, you have plenty of choice. The seaside town in South Devon has a wide range of restaurants serving everything from traditional fish and chips to an ever-increasing selection of international cuisine. Torquay also has one of just a small handful of venues in Devon to have been awarded a prestigious Michelin star for its high-quality cooking. 

We’ve put together a handy guide to Torquay eateries, so whether you’re looking for a chain restaurant where you’re familiar with the menu or you want to try something new at one of the English Riviera’s independent businesses, we’ve got you covered.

Are you planning a break in Torquay with friends and family? Or a romantic getaway? Whatever the occasion, we have the perfect holiday cottage for you. You can check out our collection by clicking on the button below.

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• Best restaurants in Torquay
• Chain restaurants in Torquay
• Italian and other European restaurants in Torquay
• Indian and other Asian restaurants in Torquay

Best restaurants in Torquay

Torquay boasts some of the best restaurants along the English Riviera, offering a diverse range of dining options.

The Elephant Torquay 

Photo credit: The Elephant

This restaurant by the harbour has had a Michelin star since 2006 – and while you may think that means it’s going to be expensive, it offers arguably the best-value Michelin-starred lunch in the UK. The Elephant is run by chef proprietor Simon Hulstone and it has a dedicated farm in nearby Brixham where it sources much of its ingredients. The children’s menu, for children aged 10 and under, is not available in the evenings. Dairy-free options are not available, so this is not a suitable restaurant for vegans.

The Waddling Duck at Hamiltons

A relatively new addition to the Torquay dining scene, The Waddling Duck is just across the road from the Babbacombe Theatre. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday evenings as well as for Sunday lunch. Children are welcome to dine from the a la carte menu, but there’s no separate menu for them. If the main menu is over your budget, you could consider the Hamiltons Club bar menu. Dogs are not allowed in the restaurant but are welcome in the bar and on the patio, as long as they have clean paws and are on a lead.

Old Vienna Restaurant

The multi-award-winning Old Vienna Restaurant, run by experienced chef proprietor Werner Rott, is an intimate venue that offers artisan cuisine with an Austrian touch – think schnitzel and apple strudel. It’s open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and also offers takeaways. Private dinner party bookings are available Monday to Thursday. All the main courses are served with a selection of four vegetables and a potato dish.

The Orange Tree Restaurant

Photo credit: The Orange Tree Restaurant

Tucked away in a residential area close to the harbour, The Orange Tree is a small restaurant that offers luxury a la carte dining with warm and friendly service. The menu, featuring modern British and European fare made with seasonal produce, changes regularly. The crisp white table linen and candlelight make the surroundings elegant and ideal for celebrating a special occasion. 

No 7 Fish Bistro

No 7 Fish Bistro and Wine Bar, by Torquay harbour, is the place to go if you’re looking for a high-quality seafood restaurant. It offers fresh fish and shellfish from nearby Brixham, so the dishes can be limited in the event of adverse weather conditions. It’s open every evening except Sunday, and lunchtimes from Wednesday to Saturday. The starters are also available as light lunches. Smaller portions of the main menu are available for children and a non-fish menu is available on request.

Chain restaurants in Torquay

Torquay features a variety of popular chain restaurants located near the town centre and waterfront, making them ideal for a casual meal with family or friends.

Harvester Torquay

This family-friendly restaurant chain is famous for its unlimited salad bar, its grills and rotisserie chicken. The Torquay branch of Harvester is located right by the harbour, with a pay-and-display council car park very close by. The bar is dog friendly.

Las Iguanas Torquay

Las Iguanas is a Latin American restaurant and bar that’s famous for its cocktails. The Torquay branch is situated right opposite Torre Abbey Sands. Offers include the Bottomless Brunch, where you can choose a main from the brunch menu and enjoy unlimited drinks of your choice for up to two hours. Cocktails are two-for-one all day, every day. 

Beefeater Torquay 

Beefeater is a family-friendly chain famous for its steaks and burgers and Torquay’s branch, The Belgrave, is a stone’s throw from Torre Abbey Sands – you can see the sea from the beer garden. It also serves a Sunday roast, and an unlimited breakfast.

Taco Bell Torquay 

If you’re after some fast food but want an alternative to burger and fries, why not get some Mexican-inspired food from Taco Bell – perhaps some burritos or nachos. The American chain opened a branch in Torquay in 2022 and it’s located right by the harbour.

Prezzo Torquay 

Prezzo is a casual Italian dining chain offering pizzas and classic pasta dishes such as the spaghetti carbonara or bolognese. Gluten-free versions of classic pizzas are available. Prezzo has an all-Italian wine list. The Torquay branch of Prezzo is situated by the harbour. 

Italian and other European restaurants in Torquay

Torquay is home to an impressive selection of Italian and other European restaurants, where you can enjoy everything from authentic wood-fired pizzas and fresh pasta to Greek and Turkish-inspired dishes.

Amici

Amici is a stylish, family-owned Italian restaurant offering authentic and traditional food in a modern setting, a short walk from Torquay harbour. There are children’s, gluten-free and vegan menus available.

Ephesus

Ephesus, which opened in the former Pizza Express building close to Torquay harbour, is a stylish Eastern Mediterranean restaurant that offers a selection of Greek and Turkish dishes, perhaps the best-known of which is the lamb moussaka.  

Small World Restaurant and Tapas Bar

Small World is a very popular Mediterranean restaurant in Torquay town centre. It offers traditional sharing plates from around the world in a stone-lined dining room – and all the tapas are homemade, from the Caribbean curried goat to Brixham scallops. The a la carte menu is available from Tuesday to Saturday.

Indian and other Asian restaurants in Torquay

Torquay offers a vibrant selection of Indian and Asian restaurants, where visitors can savour the rich flavours of traditional curries, bringing the diverse tastes of Asia to the heart of the English Riviera.

Richie Indian restaurant and takeaway

Richie offers authentic South Indian cuisine from proprietors Jothi and husband Christopher, who ran a restaurant in India for 10 years. The restaurant’s name comes from the couple’s eldest son, Richard. There is a children’s menu with traditional English dishes. All meat is halal. Richie is open every evening except Monday. 

Indi-Yang

Indi-Yang is a Pan-Asian restaurant where tradition meets innovation and culinary artistry takes centre stage. It places a strong emphasis on clean, healthy and natural eating and claims you’ll feel great after dining here. Indi-Yang has a no under-11s policy, due to the dining experience it aims to deliver to all of its guests. 

Gurkha’s Inn

Gurkha’s Inn is a Nepalese and Indian restaurant and takeaway in Torquay town centre. It’s proud of its food, polite and friendly staff, and value for money. Set meals for one or two people are available. The handy ‘chilli rating’ on the menu indicates the level of hotness of the dish on a scale from one to four. 

Map of places to eat in Torquay

Please find all of the above Torquay restaurants with the help of our handy map.

Stay with us in one of our holiday cottages in Torquay

Dining out is one of life’s great pleasures. You can eat something delicious you wouldn’t know how to create at home, or simply enjoy the night off from preparing a meal yourself – and cleaning up afterwards.

However, eating out for every meal of your holiday may feel a bit decadent. Or you may want to eat at an unusual time of day, and not worry about dress codes. You may want to have your dogs with you (though it should be noted that Devon has lots of dog-friendly pubs, such as The Dog and Duck in Babbacombe, Torquay) or have an unmissable sports match on TV in the background. This is where self-catering accommodation comes into its own. 

We have a large number of holiday properties in Torquay and the nearby area, both large and small. You can browse the complete collection by clicking on the button below. For more inspiration on eating out in Devon, read our guide on the best restaurants in Devon.